No Christmas market for Derry

Erin Hutcheon

There will be no Christmas market in Derry this year because of a lack of budget, local councillors have been told.

The matter was raised at this afternoon’s business and culture committee meeting of Derry and Strabane District Council.

The council were told that £120,000 has been set aside for marketing Christmas in the area.

Patricia Logue of Sinn Fein raised concerns about how drab the Guildhall Square looked last year when the market was moved to Ebrington Square.

The SDLP’s Shauna Cusack called for the market to be returned to the Guildhall.

However it was only when John Boyle of the SDLP asked directly if the market would be returning that councillors were told that Derry City and Strabane District council had no current intention to bring the market back this year.